Top 5 Favourite Exercises By Soccer Pro Lauren Sesselmann

Lauren Sesselmann, born in Green Bay is an American-born Canadian-International professional soccer player and model. Speaking on fitness & workout to Women Fitness, she states “When I’m in season we do a lot of different exercises to ensure we are strong on the field. We’ll do a lot of squats, resistance work and core work. When I’m not in season I love mixing it up with pilates for core, swimming for endurance and kickboxing for releasing stress and cardio work.”

“I’ve always been into fitness. I’ve been surrounded by sports and fitness my whole life. With all of the different trainers I’ve met along the way, everyone has a different way of training, so I’ve learned a bunch of different techniques.”

Below Are Top Five:

1. Reverse Lunge With Front Kick

Stand with your feet a shoulder width apart. Keep your core stable and weight on your heels. Take a large step back with your right foot, planting and then lowering your body until both legs are bent in right angles. Learn forward to work glutes and hamstrings more.

Exhale as you extend your legs. Lift your right foot, bringing your right knee toward your chest, and then launch a front kick into the stomach of an imaginary opponent standing directly in front of you. This completes one rep. Complete all your reps before switching legs.

2. Curtsey Lunge with Side Kick

The front knee will go slightly angled and forward, that’s okay. Just make sure you take a big enough step to allow your front foot to remain flat on the ground.

As you stand up, kick your leg out to the side.

Repeat 30 times and then switch sides.

3. Plank Up & Down

Starting on your elbows and toes, or for Level 1, on your knees, engage your core before you start. Keep your hips as still as possible, push up with one hand then the other until you are propped up in a push-up position.

Lower back down to your elbows one arm at a time. Halfway through, change your leading arm so you strengthen the other shoulder as you press up to your hands.

Maintain a solid plank position throughout the whole exercise and to not let your hips sway.

4. Tricep Dips With Single Leg Extension

Sit on the edge of a box or floor with well feet planted on the floor.

Grip the edge of the box or place your hands flat on the floor, knuckles facing forward and place hands shoulder width apart. Extend one leg and lift off the box.

Lower your body in a controlled motion bending your elbows at 90-degrees. Hips level, elbows close to your torso, push back up and repeat.

5. Y-T-W’s

This is a great volleyball shoulder exercise for posterior activation and scapular stabilizing.

Start off lying on your back, with your arms extended above your head (so that your body forms a Y shape). Try to get your arms as low to the floor as possible, ideally your elbows will be touching the floor, though this unlikely at first.

From the Y position move your arms downward into a T shape, whilst keeping your arms as low to the floor as possible.

From here draw your elbows into your body, thus forming a W shape.

Repeat for 3 sets of 10.

Lauren adds “One of ultimate favorite things I add every other day to my routine is some total body work on a slideboard or with towels on my hands and feet at home on a slippery surface. You can do so much in the comfort of your home it’s crazy.”

She’s the host of “Fit as a Pro with Lauren Sesselmann”, a series of workout DVDs focusing on short, effective workout routines.